The Banner Saga 2

Banner Saga 2 is a game full of despair, heartache, and utter loss, and that’s some of the best parts. There is always some hope as you push forward. You will become intertwined in a huge story based on Viking-type characters and lore and spend hours doing it.

This is one hell of a journey.

If you bought the original and played it, you need this port. If you’ve played The Banner Saga on another system and want to get the sequel, the Switch or iPad version is my recommendation. These kinds of games are best on portables and the Switch even gives you the flexibility of playing on TV if you want to do so.

Banner Saga 2 is a great sequel, building on the first one’s fantastic presentation and style. The music is positively sublime especially when paired with the gorgeous art and animation. If you’re craving a good fantasy story and are down for some fun tactical turn-based fare, this series is one to follow through on. The finale can’t come soon enough even if the battles and story segments along the way might thin the party in tragic ways.

The game is very much the middle chapter of a trilogy, so huge revolutions with gameplay are not to be expected but when the core experience is so worthwhile that isn’t really a knock. The Banner Saga 2 is well worth your time.

The Banner Saga 2 expands on the series' existing foundations with more of the same. There’s no drastic overhaul to the text-based elements or battle segments, and similar systems are in place when it comes to managing your caravan party, fighting enemies, and talking your way out of a tight spot. If you’ve played the original, you’ll know exactly what to expect. Subtle refinements make this a sequel that truly lives up to the standards of the first entry, however, paving the way for the final chapter.

The Banner Saga 2 is a stunningly animated game that sets a new standard for both presentation and narrative outside of the AAA sphere. The game does stumble with a poorly designed combat UI, and a claustrophobic battle system that doesn’t offer much breathing room for different strategies. While monotonous, combat is serviceable, and doesn’t greatly detract from what is otherwise a defining narrative tale.

Much like its predecessor, The Banner Saga 2 finds an excellent spot in the Switch’s library. It’s a sequel that refines rather than evolves any of the key gameplay elements, but still manages to feel like an important piece of the series’ narrative puzzle.

The Banner Saga 2 feels quite epic at times, especially when you come across ancient stone carvings dedicated to gods long forgotten, as the world literally crumbles around you, making you feel small and unimportant against the greater backdrop of a world on the brink of succumbing to darkness. Your journey feels almost hopeless, but there is always a thin rope of hope to guide you. Now we wait for the conclusion.

The Banner Saga 2 is a mesmerizing and beautiful turn-based RPG with a deep and layered combat system while also delivering a strong narrative jammed with plenty of tough player decisions.

The Banner Saga 2 is better than the first game, not only has improved in its combat, also in its narrative. It moves us, through its history, to a journey in which we must fight for survival.

While new additions such as classes and barricades are nice to have, at six to eight hours long, it is a bit on the short side for the asking price. The physical release of the Banner Saga Trilogy offers greater value for money.

It's the middle part of a story and at times it certainly feels middling. More polished that the first title yet nowhere near as enthralling or captivating, it feels like it was dragging the story along at times. Fans of the first title will still find plenty to enjoy, and I hope that the final part sees some of the choices pay off.